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Art by Jer Dee

Let’s be real — it’s quite a challenge to stay functional and sociable during the summer days. But as much as we want to stay within the confines of our air-conditioned rooms beside our ignored Meralco love letters, we’re wasting a whole season meant to be enjoyed outside with our friends and family. As a team who cares about your social life (and electricity bills), we’ve rounded up 12 cool food spots for you to visit with your loved ones this summer.

1. Manila Creamery

If there’s any local dessert shop we should all be proud of it should be Manila Creamery. From their branding right down to their specialty flavors, the establishment prides itself as the only Filipino-inspired Gelato company.

#YSReco: Try their Salted Egg cheesecake and Mangga at Suman for some local flavor. A favorite is the Cereal Milk — rumor is that it resembles Momofuku’s cereal soft serve.

P.S. We miss the Young STAR flavor they made for #YSProm 2016. It was peanut butter gelato with crushed nips and curly tops. Yeah, be jealous, it was hella good.

Get your gelato on at Manila Creamery located at UP Town Center, Katipunan Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, and Industrie Food Loft, City Golf Plaza, Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Center.

2. Shakeaway

With 180 flavors and millions of possible milkshake combinations to choose from — Shakeaway is definitely the milkshake bar haven everyone dreamt of having. If you and your friends can’t unanimously decide where to get dessert, Shakeaway has got you covered (even your health-slash-fit friend can eat here).

#YSReco: We’re too overwhelmed to choose a specific flavor so we’re going to stick with their world famous shake named Joe.

3. The Den

Aside from it’s hip location and interiors, the Den easily gets 100 cool points for using local specialty coffee, solely sourced from Kalsada. Kalsada is a passionate group of young individuals championing Philippine coffee creating a great connection from struggling farmers out in the hinterlands to coffee drinkers in our cities. And because of the “maker spirit” in Escolta, the space became a gathering spot for artists, creatives and curious individuals.

#YSReco: Latte and their homemade soda drinks.

Hang out at The Den located at 413 Escolta St. Manila.

4. Single Origin

Single Origin proves to be one of the best workplaces in Manila. You can choose either a cup of joe to stay focused or a bottle of craft beer to boost your creativity. Oh, have I mentioned they have stable wifi and a decent amount of plugs too? Yep, they get us.

5. Cafe Seol Hwa

Take a break from your K-Drama binge and go out to see your friends in the real world for a bit. After following the footsteps of our fave weightlifting girl gang by eating your weight in Korean BBQ, head over to Cafe Seol hwa for some authentic Bing su. A small bowl can be shared with another person fairly because thankfully, they don’t scrimp on their ingredients.

6. Yo! Panda

Bringing you Hong Kong style cold treats is Yo! Panda in SM Megamall. This family-owned restaurant is the place to go to for your eggette waffle sundaes. Their Italian Gelato bubble waffles come in 6 different flavors.

Can’t decide where to go first? #ProTip: Post this on Instagram, and tag your friends. Let them decide for ya.

7. The Lost Bread

One of Maginhawa’s famous food spots, The Lost Bread, is now open in Megamall to serve you your favorite desserts. Now that you don’t have to go all the way up north to taste their milkshakes and french toast, it’s time to hit your group chat to push through with that hangout you’ve been planning for months.

8. Taco Vengo

If you haven’t tried anything else aside from Taco Vengo’s tacos (we can’t blame you, it’s really the best), we suggest you give their specialty drinks a try. Aside from being the place to go to for lunch and merienda, it also became a good place to unwind at for drinks and… more tacos.

9. OTO

One of the newcomers in Poblacion is OTO, a concept cafe-slash-bar with a focus on music, designed to give its guests the ultimate listening experience. Aside from being geared with the best amplifiers, turntables, and vinyl records, OTO also serves great coffee and cocktails.

#YSReco: Enjoy the music with their Shiso Daiquiri

OTO is located at 5880 Enriquez St., Poblacion, Makati City.

10. Maisen Bar

The first ever Maisen Bar is now here in Manila and we’re more than happy to pair our Katsus with some cocktails. We can attest that the Japanese know how to unwind well.

#YSReco: Kankitsu Highball for a light and refreshing drink.

Maisen Bar is located at Shangri-La at the Fort, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

11. Farmacy

Fresh homemade ice cream that comes with nostalgia like no other, Farmacy is an easy favorite go-to place after lunch or dinner. It’s that ice cream bar every kid in town wants to hang out at, as well as the spot you and your colleagues’ drink at after work.

#YSReco: The flavors of their ice cream depends on what they make for the day. So a few recommendations would be their Mint Chocolate Chip, Moonshine, and if it’s available, the Milk ice cream. Also a refreshing favorite is their guava milkshake. To unwind from a long day of work, try any from Farmacy After Dark section.

Farmacy is located at 26th Street & 4th Ave., Bonifacio Global City.

12. Need Coffee

Literally the newest kid on the block, Need Coffee is a specialty coffee shop based in BF Homes, Parañaque. If you’re looking to catch up with your deadlines or with your friends, this is the place for you. Daniel Roque, their head barista, is also the 2016 AeroPress PH champion so you know, you and your coffee are in good hands.

#YSReco: Rose Water Cold Brew Au Lait, #forthegram but also for your soul.